Christmas tree stand



Dec. 28, 1943. R, W MELDRUM 2,337,914

CHRISTMAS TREE STAND l Filed Dc. 6, 1941 y V INVENTORv mwman ATTORNEYPatented Dec. 23, 1943 'UNTTED STATES .eq

TENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in Christmas tree stand, whereinit is desired to provide a simple and eiective device for holding aChristmas tree or the like in vertical position.

It has been found desirable to maintain the lower or cut end of aChristmas tree, or the like, in water while it is on display. It hasbeen found that liquid often prevents the premature falling of theneedles of the tree and keeps the tree in good condition for aconsiderable period of time. Various types of stands or holders havebeen made, some of which hold the lower end of the tree in a bath ofwater. Most of these previous constructions, however, are expensive tomanufacture and thewater may be easily spilled from the stand.

It is the object of the present invention to construct a stand or holderfor Christmas trees, and the like, which will securely hold the tree inan upright position, which will allowthe lower end of the tree to beimmersed in water, and which will not allow water to spill readilytherefrom. This holder may be made at an extremely low cost and may bereadily produced in large quantities.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of aChristmas tree stand or holder having a substantially at under surfaceand having an upwardly bowed upper surface secured marginally to thelower surface. This upper surface is provided with an integraldownwardly extending central sleeve, which projects toward therelatively flat under surface. This sleeve is open at both ends so thatthe trunk of a tree may be inserted therethrough into the holder. Thusthe tree is supported in an upright position by the sleeve, and at thesame time the water within the body of the holder is prevented fromescaping by this sleeve.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the holder maybe partially lled with water or a prepared solution and may be readilycarried about or shipped without danger of spilling the liquid. Theholder when lled is lled only to the lower level of the sleeve, as thespace above this point forms an air pocket. The water may be carriedwithin the holder with little danger of spilling, as the holder may besubstantially inverted in most instances without spilling the liquid. Asthe sleeve is integral with the top of the holder there is no danger ofleakage between the holder top and the sleeve.

In the rst constructions of the holder the central sleeve was a separateelement in the form of a brass tube which extended through a centralopening in the cover plate and which was riveted or otherwise secured inplace. This previous construction had certain disadvantages. y In thefirst place, as the tubing was a separate element this tube did notsupport the tree as well as an integral sleeve. In the second place, thejoint between this tubing and the top of the holder was often notWater-tight, allowing leakage at this point. f

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that aspacing tube may be used between the top and bottom surfaces of theholder if it is found necessary or desirable. This spacing tube is oftennot required as the holder is possessed of considerable strength due toits convex shape and the reinforcing ribs. When it is desired, however,a spacing tubing may be inserted between the upper and lower plates,thus reinforcing the plates and holding them in spaced.

relation. This spacing tube may freely encircle the sleeve integral withthe holder tube.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact thatspring means may be used to hold the tree in upright position if it isso desired. Spring strips may be readily incorporated within the holderto hold the tree in upright position under spring tension.

These and other objects and. novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully, setforth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view on a Vertical plane through thecenter of the holder.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the holder.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the joint between theupper and lower holder surfaces.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the central sleeve formedintegrally with the holder top surface.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modiedform oiconstruction.

The stand or holder A is particularly designed for the support of aChristmas tree or the like so as to hold the tree in upright positionduring its period of display. The holder A includes a disc-shaped lowerbase wall I0, which may be formed of thin metal, or the like. An uppercovering member Il is secured to the lower base wall I0 in a mannerwhich will now be described in detail.

The upper covering member ll is preferably punched from a flat sheet ofmetal and is formed into concave shape by one or a series of formingplace.

operations. The upperf member II is preferably provided with a series ofstiffening ribs I2 which extend in a substantially radial direction andthe convex body is provided with a peripheral outwardly extending flangeI3. A gasket I4 is interposed between the flange I3 and the marginaledge of the disc I and the marginal edge I5 of the flange I3 is bentdownwardly and inwardly to enclose the marginal edge of the disc I0. Thegasket I4 is pressedbetween the disc I0 and the ange I3, providing a`Water-proof joint.

At the center of the upper covering member II, I provide a downwardlyprojecting sleeve I6;-V

which is integral with thetop surface II. This sleeve I6 is drawndownwardly in a series of forming operations intoa cup shape andthebottom or the cup is punched out to form an open ended an opening insaid covering member, a sleeve insleeve.

I'I are formed in the upper member I I adjacent theV sleeve I6 and theseribs strengthen the upper covering member adjacent the center.

If it is desired, a spacing sleeve I9 may be pro- 'videdwithin theholder to hold the upper member II and the disc-shaped lowerfwallmemberv IQ in 'eid form of construction which embodiesvspring supportingelements.

In this holder, which is illustrated generally by the letter B, Iprovide a disc 2| which is marginally secured to a top 22. The top 22 issecured marginally at 23 to the disc 2|, the edge 24 of the ange 23being folded beneath and clamping the marginal edge of the disc 2 I. Agasket 25 is interposed between the disc 2I and the flange 23- to sealthe ange with respect to the disc. v Y

At angularly spaced points I provide resilient elements 26 which extendinwardly toward the center of the holder. These resilient elements 26include at stripe like portions'2'l which are tere minally secured at 29between-the gasket 25 and the ange 23 and are thus clamped securely inThe strips 21 are uprightly inclined at 29 and extend to form springloops 30 which engage the surface of the Vtrunk of a tree inserted intothe holder. An integral sleeve 3| projects downwardly from the uppercovering member 22 into spaced relation with the disc shaped bottommember 2 I.

The operation of my stand or holder is believed obvious kfrom theforegoing description.v Water is placed within the holder and the lowerend of v Substantially radially extending grooves tipped over, there islittle danger of the water spilling, as the sleeve I6 or 3I preventssuch action. A cup, such as 32 may be formed in the disc 2| or III, ifit is desired, to better hold the tree in an upright position.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my Christmas tree supporting stand orholder, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodimentsthereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be madewithin the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A Christmas tree stand comprising a substantially flat base, anupwardly bowed covering member peripherally secured to said flat base,

tegral with ,said covering member and extending downwardly from saidopening into spaced relation with said flat base, and a spacing tubeencircling said sleeve andextending between said base and said coveringmember.

2. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base, a vcovering member inspaced relation thereto, means marginally connecting said coveringmember and said base, a sleeve von said covering member extendingdownwardly toward said base,

and resilient means 'between said base and said 'covering memberpositioned to engage the trunk of a tree extending through saidv sleeve.

3. A Christmas tree stand comprising a base, an upwardly bowed coveringmember secured peripherally to said base, a central opening in saidcovering member, and a series of angularly spaced resilient meansextending inwardly from the periphery of said base designed to engagethe'trunk of'a tree extending through said openmg.

4. A Christmas tree stand comprising a ilat disk forming'a base, anupwardly bowed covering `member of sheet material having a peripheralange extending about the same, means attaching said flange marginally tosaid base, a central opening in said covering member, and an integralsleeve on said covering member about said opening extending downwardlyfrom said opening toward said base and terminating in spaced relation tosaid base.

5. A Christmas tree holder comprising a at disk forming a base, anupwardly bowed covering member o f sheet material, a peripheral flangeextending marginally'about said covering member and' extending parallelto and adjacent the marginal edge of said base, gasket means betweensaid marginal flange on said covering member and said base, meansmarginally securing said flange to said base, said covering memberhaving a central opening therein, an integral sleeve about said openingon said covering member extending downwardly from said covering memberto a point in spaced relation to said base.

yROY w. MELDRUM.

